Radio One Acquires Cox Houston

[Deleted member 108832]

That's what I was thinking. Cumulus has had a lot of success with a 90's based classic country format in several markets including Nashville.

Would Cumulus keep classic country to combo with a CHR? I would think if they are a player, 97.1 would be used to flank KRBE, and pull some shares away from iHeart's Mix and Sunny. Along the same lines as what Cox has been doing with it for the last two decades to hit 100.3 on both ends.

 

[Ryan Williams]

I agree on your assessment of 97.1, but given the recent "upgrade" of 92 1, I believe that it will sell for more than what is ultimately paid for 97.1.

That’s my position too. 92.1 is the better of the two facilities and it deserves to and I expect will go for a premium over 97.1.

If 97.1 goes for example say, 5 million, I would expect 92.1 to fetch in the ballpark of 7.

 

[jt99]

Would Cumulus keep classic country to combo with a CHR? I would think if they are a player, 97.1 would be used to flank KRBE, and pull some shares away from iHeart's Mix and Sunny. Along the same lines as what Cox has been doing with it for the last two decades to hit 100.3 on both ends.

KHMX is owned by Audacy, not iHeartMedia. If they really wanted to go after Audacy, they would have likely made a run for KROI as well (assuming they even have interest in KTHT at all) and had a North/South simulcast of a Classic Hits format similar to the Eagle simulcast to go after KKHH. However, it looks like KROI will be going to someone else, and I don't see Cumulus doing Classic Hits on just KTHT.

 

[Robert Douglas]

Anybody know what 97.1 in Houston is Billing? Does that make sense for a station worth $5M ?

Here in San Antonio, we have at least 7 or 8 transmitters blasting out classic country. Cox KKYX on 680, 104.9, and 100.3HD2. IHeart's "the Bull" on 93.3/92.5/104.5HD3. Then there are the mom & pops on 1420 and 1580, all with decent reception in the car during the day.

That's an amazing difference among large Texas cities. DFW only has 100.3HD2, (and a pair of distant 92.1's which are too weak) and Houston only seems to have 97.1. Given that DFW and Houston are each about triple the size of San Antonio, the lack of classic country in those two larger metros is quite surprising.

I'm betting that 97.1 will stay classic country.

 

[gimmethemoldies]

I'm betting that 97.1 will stay classic country.

I sure hope you’re right, because it’s one of the only standout formats in this city. I’m listening to it on my computer as I type to try to show support. I don’t know if it helps to stream online, but it’s something, right?

 

[Kent]

I'm betting that 97.1 will stay classic country.

That will ultimately be decided by the new ownership. Odds are strong it won’t go to a commercial operator.

I like the station, too, but that and $1 will buy you a fountain drink at the convenience store.

 

[Mediafrog+]

I'm betting that 97.1 will stay classic country.

David Eduardo has already pointed out how poorly 97.1 bills, and that is with it currently in combo with 92.9. It would be a disaster as a stand-alone. Only way it would stay Classic Country is with a small/mid-sized market broadcaster that wanted to primarily target the Piney Woods region with whatever Houston coverage it has as a bonus.

I’ve wondered how Red Dirt Country would do on 97.1, but have been told that the format skews too old and is too niche. It is present in a few other places in Texas, including Abilene and Lubbock. There is also KFWR which serves the western half of DFW with a similar format.

The 97.1 signal would make it very attractive to a national religious broadcaster such as VCY America, due to the geographic reach over a huge area of southeast Texas. That group recently entered DFW.

The fact that RO is still “in discussions” about the sale of 97.1 seems to indicate lukewarm interest in the facility. OTOH 92.1 was very quickly snapped up by another broadcaster, whose identity we should learn in the next few days (I suspect legal paperwork and announcements are being finalized, thus the delay.)

 

[TheBigA]

I’ve wondered how Red Dirt Country would do on 97.1, but have been told that the format skews too old and is too niche.

Red Dirt is a format for the boonies, not Houston. I think the station isn't reaching it's potential. If it did classic country similar to KPLX in Dallas, it would do better.

 

[Mediafrog+]

Red Dirt is a format for the boonies, not Houston.

Thus my point about targeting the Piney Woods area of SE Texas. The station has a huge geographic reach, and unlike other Houston signals, virtually none is wasted over water.

I think the station isn't reaching it's potential. If it did classic country similar to KPLX in Dallas, it would do better.

I made the point earlier about how having two full-signal country stations under the same ownership in Houston would allow for one to be more currents based, while the other leaned gold. KSCS/KPLX in DFW and KASE/KVET-FM in Austin are perfect examples, complementary formats sold in combination. We don’t have that here in Houston. Cox tried it with KKBQ and KTHT, but the 97.1 signal is rather deficient in the western and southern areas of the market. And KTHT up until very recently leaned very old with its playlist; it was sort of like combining a Hot AC with a true oldies format.

 

[TheBigA]

Cox tried it with KKBQ and KTHT, but the 97.1 signal is rather deficient in the western and southern areas of the market. And KTHT up until very recently leaned very old with its playlist; it was sort of like combining a Hot AC with a true oldies format.

How aggressive has Cox been in some way of moving the KTHT tower? A new owner might have a different approach. We saw that with EMF when they bought WAAF in Worchester.

I was looking at the music list, and it still has a lot of very questionable song choices.

 

[Mediafrog+]

How aggressive has Cox been in looking into moving the KTHT tower? A new owner might have a different approach. We saw that with EMF when they bought WAAF in Worchester.

I doubt the tower can be moved closer due to spacing issues. If 97.1 was on the same stick as 106.9 it would help them immensely, but that would have already happened if possible.

 

[TheBigA]

I doubt the tower can be moved closer due to spacing issues. If 97.1 was on the same stick as 106.9 it would help them immensely, but that would have already happened if possible.

I understand they likely would have to compromise the power a bit, but I don't know enough about how hard Cox engineering looked into it. Some companies are more aggressive than others.

 

[stevenNOLA]

How aggressive has Cox been in some way of moving the KTHT tower? A new owner might have a different approach. We saw that with EMF when they bought WAAF in Worchester.

I was looking at the music list, and it still has a lot of very questionable song choices.

KXBJ on 96.9 likely completely ices a move closer to Houston, especially any opportunity to cover the southern and western suburbs. Worth mentioning is the KTHT HD signal is quite robust and holds as far south and west as Cinco Ranch and doesn't start dropping until Fulshear.

Edit: as I’m writing this, thinking Hope Media could potentially buy 97.1, downgrade 96.9, and move 97.1 much closer to the city.

 

[Deleted member 108832]

I understand they likely would have to compromise the power a bit, but I don't know enough about how hard Cox engineering looked into it. Some companies are more aggressive than others.

Theoretically, one could move it towards Lufkin. KXBJ prohibits it from being placed closer to Houston. Even with a northward move, and I am not on the engineering side of the equation, it would most certainly have to be downgraded from a full C, having to protect KEGL, KQHN and, to a lesser degree, KTBB-FM. Then there's the whole argument as to why would one take it further away from the more lucrative Houston market in the first place.

Mediafrog, I like your way of thinking, but the problem with Lufkin-Nacogdoches is the market size. Anyone up this way, who could actually afford to purchase the facility, wouldn't be wasting time trying to carve out a slither of the already small Piney Woods pie. Sure would be satisfying to see one being stolen back from y'all, after all of the ones your big city has taken from all of us over the last 30 years! 😂

 

[MarkW]

I think VCY America is definitely an entity that would have interest in acquiring 97.1. Bible Broadcasting Network (BBN) is another.

 

[Mediafrog+]

I think VCY America is definitely an entity that would have interest in acquiring 97.1. Bible Broadcasting Network (BBN) is another.

BBN has Texas stations in San Antonio (Class C1), Palestine (also C1) and Sherman-Denison (A). They also have translators in Paris, Greenville, and Lufkin. I could see them being interested in 97.1 to cover a very large area of SE Texas and get a foothold in Houston.

VCY has stations in DFW (Class C), Lubbock (C1) and Midland-Odessa (C1.) They recently acquired the DFW signal, so I would think they also want to have a presence in Houston and SE Texas.

KXBJ prohibits it from being placed closer to Houston.

Let's also not forget second adjacent KFNC, which is 68 miles from the KTHT tower, so close to minimum required geographic separation.

 

[Mrtejano]

Another company we haven’t mentioned is the guys from Radio Libertad. Do they have that kind of money at the moment to move in to Houston?

 

[radioislife2020]

SBS seems to be entering the market soon. They cant bring the MEGA brand but El sol could for sure be coming to Houston. Any honestly SBS knows the format much better than Univision or Audicy in just a matter of months they have been able to achieve great results in Tamba and Orlando and well they have one of the biggest billing stations in nyc .

 

[radioislife2020]

Another company we haven’t mentioned is the guys from Radio Libertad. Do they have that kind of money at the moment to move in to Houston?

Heck no!

 

[Mediafrog+]

Doesn’t contain anything not already discussed here, but RadioInsight has this analysis of the deal: Looking At The Radio One/Cox Houston Deal - RadioInsight

SBS seems to be entering the market soon. They cant bring the MEGA brand but El sol could for sure be coming to Houston. Any honestly SBS knows the format much better than Univision or Audicy in just a matter of months they have been able to achieve great results in Tamba and Orlando and well they have one of the biggest billing stations in nyc .

Isn’t El Zol a tropical format? Past chatter on this board is that tropical really doesn’t work in Houston. Is there enough of a market for it now, or is it a concept that can be customized to fit here?